THE MAY FIELDS 23 



but the glories of May, having usually but a brief 

 portion of the month in which to develop, pass, 

 as it were, at breathless speed. 



Yes, if ever there is a nervous energy of nature, 

 it is in May in Alpine regions ; and it behoves 

 us to be equally quick and timely. For instance, 

 this year (1910) I was struck by the fact that, two 

 weeks after the last vestige of an avalanche had 

 cleared from off a steep slope at the foot of the 

 Breyaz, three or four cows belonging to the hotels 

 were grazing contentedly on rich green grass, and 

 the Crocus and Soldanella had already bloomed and 

 disappeared. 



When we quit the plains their face is well set 

 towards June. Spring's early timidity and delicacy 

 are past ; the Primrose, Scilla, Hepatica, Violet, 

 and Wood- Anemone have retired into a diligent 

 obscurity and the fields are already gay with the 

 Orchids and the Globe-Flower. But up here at 

 Champex we find ourselves back with the Crocus, 

 springing fresh and glistening from the brown, 

 snow-soaked sward, and with the as yet scarcely 

 awakened Cowslip. As we climb up from Martigny 

 the slopes grow more and more wintry-looking, 

 and we may perhaps begin to regret leaving the 

 wealth of blushing apple- blossom which dominates 



